April 27 - The little orca that could

Good morning !

We’ve got your round up of places Princess Anne will be visiting during her tour of Greater Victoria next week. Plus, a look at Brave Little Hunter’s escape from a Zeballos lagoon.

— Robyn

Today’s approx. read time: 5 minutes

🌡️ Weather Forecast

Today: 🌧️ 12 / 8 

Tomorrow: 🌧️ 10 / 6

Day after: 🌦️ 12 / 6

7-day forecast

NEWS

Princess Anne will overnight aboard a naval ship during 2-day stay next week

The Princess Royal and her husband Tim Laurence will spend time in Victoria and Vancouver—and aboard a Canadian naval ship—when they visit BC next week.

Although times and dates have not been released as per protocol, the Princess Royal’s first sojourn in Victoria since 1971 will be busy with stops at organizations close to her purview. The Princess Royal, Honourary Commodore-in-Chief of the Canadian Fleet Pacific, will sail overnight on His Majesty’s Canadian Ship (HMCS) Max Bernays and will receive a 21-gun royal salute when the recently arrived vessel enters Esquimalt Harbour, for a commissioning ceremony.

A royal visit to the Victoria Therapeutic Riding Association is also on the itinerary for the lifelong equestrian with a strong Olympic background, including her competition at the 1976 Montreal Games. She is expected to meet with staff, clients, and families of the non-profit, present prizes, and tour the stables.

The only daughter of the late Queen Elizabeth II will lay wreaths at the God’s Acre Veterans Cemetery in Esquimalt and the legislature during a service to commemorate the Battle of the Atlantic, the longest continuous battle of the Second World War, which took the lives of approximately 4,400 sailors from Canada and Newfoundland and Labrador.

The Maritime Museum, founded by an initial donation by Her Royal Highness’s late father Prince Philip, is part of the tour with the Princess Royal slated to stop by its archives and collections space. Then there’s the Spring Dinghies Regatta at the Royal Victoria Yacht Club, part of which the Princess Royal will attend.

The sister of the King (Charles, 75, is two years her senior) will be making her third visit to Canada in a year, following a stop in New Brunswick last May and in Alberta the following month. 

See the full listing of Princess Anne events at Capital Daily.

⚠️ Capital Bulletin

TC 10K road closures today. [Most are tomorrow]

Wallace from Stelly’s Cross to West Saanich southbound closed for sewer construction. [Until further notice]

Traffic disruptions and CCTV for downtown demonstration. [3-5pm]

Meat recall due to possible Listeria contamination. [CFIA]

Drug poisoning / overdose advisory for Victoria / Westshore / Sooke. [Island Health]

NEWS

Free Little Hunter: After a month in Island lagoon, trapped orca calf escapes

The orca calf, stranded in an up-Island lagoon for almost a month, is on her way home.

On March 23, the Biggs killer whale arrived in the lagoon with her mother who was teaching her to hunt, but as the tide lowered, the adult orca became beached on a sandbar and the exit from the lagoon was closed off. 

Despite efforts from locals to save her mother, she eventually drowned, leaving the calf swimming alone in the shallow lagoon. Local First Nations alerted the DFO, and researchers quickly came together to try to reunite the young calf with her pod.

Several attempts were made to get her out of the lagoon, from guiding her with a net into a sling that a helicopter would lift out of the water—she proved too clever for capture—to a Nanaimo woman playing the violin to try to lure her out during high tides.

Early Fri. morning, Brave Little Hunter (kʷiisaḥiʔis), as named by the Ehattesaht First Nation for her propensity to avoid capture, managed to swim out on her own as tides rose, with members of Nuchatlaht and Ehattesaht First Nations in a small boat using seal meat to entice her toward the exit. 

According to media reports, Ehattesaht First Nation Chief Simon John said the killer whale spent much of the night breaching and playing in the lagoon and was then seen swimming out from it and down the inlet.

The hope now, rescuers said, was she would be able to hear her family’s cries out in the open ocean.

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⭐️ Capital Picks

🍕 Pizza Garden coming to Victoria: The Lower Mainland Neapolitan-style pizza joint is opening its first Island location at Government and Courtney. 

💻 Langford’s new fact-check page. [LetsChatLangford.ca]

🏨 Magnolia Hotel & Spa makes Travel + Leisure Top 500 hotels and resorts worldwide. 

🤝 Now hiring: Account Executive at Capital Daily

🗞️ In Other News

Oak Bay parents camp overnight for childcare spots
Mayor Kevin Mudoch says it’s not-first-come-first-served; parents just need to drop off a form. But with space so limited for daycare at Oak Bay’s lone public school, parents are putting in the hours and crossing their fingers their kids get in. The co-chair of the Willows Elementary parents advisory committee says there’s got to be a better way. [CHEK] 

Commit to affordability and come back, Vic council tells developer
The narrow 20-unit rental proposed for Richardson (replacing a current 4-unit) was sent back to staff. Council scolded the developer’s “highly inappropriate” last-minute offer to add 4 below-market units back in—without legally committing to do so, or going through the proper process. [Times Colonist]

Saanich Police Board extends chief’s contract for 3 years
Chief Const. Dean Duthie’s deal has been re-upped until Jan. 31, 2029. The board says Duthie has demonstrated “his leadership skills, values, and ethics are aligned with the community.” Duthie, who holds a master’s degree from UVic, began his policing career with the SPD 29 years ago, becoming chief in 2022. [Saanich Police]

🗓️ Things to do

🩰 Ballets Jazz Montreal: The contemporary dance company will perform at the Royal Theatre today, 7:30pm. [Info]

🎤 Soberoke: Sing your heart out and enjoy Zero Proof mocktails and snacks at Fort Tectoria today, 6-10pm.  

🛍️ Spring-O-Ween: Shop from local makers at this halfway to Halloween markets in the lower level of Market Square today, 11am-4pm.

🌱 Sooke Celebration Event: Celebrate Earth Day with a game zone and market vendors and exhibitors beside Fire Station One on Otter Point Rd today, 10am-2pm. 

🎭 Metamorphosis A Healing Journey: Multi-media performance including dance, music visual art, and lived experiences at Dave Dunnet Community Theatre. Today 7:30-9pm. Tomorrow 2-3:30pm.

🎙️ A Night to Buena Vista Social Club: Pianist Pablo Cardenas will be joined by the West Coast Cuban Orchestra for a night of traditional Cuban music at Hermann’s Jazz Club today. Doors 5:30pm, show 7pm.

🎧 Father Funk & Slynk: The electronic musicians will perform at Capital Ballroom tonight. Doors 9pm, show 9:30pm.

🖼️ SPAC Spring Show: View and shop paintings, sculptures, pottery, and more at Mary Winspear Centre. Today 10am-6pm, tomorrow 10am-4pm.

📖 The Flame: Deborah Williams hosts a two day storytelling workshop at Belfry Theatre. Today and tomorrow, 10am-4pm.

👀 In Case You Missed It

Friday’s headlines: Expanded Gorge swimming dock on deck; Real hospital superheroes; Eviction confusion continues; And more. [April 26] 

Taylor Swift-inspired ice cream by Parachute Ice Cream, featuring seven flavours.

Uni Modern Japanese Restaurant is opening in the location previously occupied by JR Slims at 1245 Wharf. 

Get updated measles immunization, Island Health advises. 

Royal Roads gets $3M for groundbreaking research project. [Geothermal] 

That’s it!

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